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Oct. 1% 1% W. K. LJUNGBAHL ART AND APPARATUS FOR ULTIMATE DESTRUCTIV BDISTILLATION o F ORGANIC MATTE] R Filed Jan 25, 1923 M mw/ W R mm 3 R MF m W RNEVS l ii l ailented C ot. l 1926.

ST "l" WFILILIAJM K. LJUNGDAHL, OF PORTLAND, OREGON. ASSIGNOR T ALBE OF PORTLAND, OREGQN Application filed January 25, 1923. Serial No. 614,854.

My invention'relates ultimately to the destructive distillation of organic substances, of which, for example only, wood is referred to for convenience throughout this specification; but it has for its object, in general terms, the promotion of economy and elliciency in thhe manufacture of products rerover-able by distillation, whereof destructive distillation constitutes a final step.

In respect to the said item of economy, my invention is chieflymoncerned in the manner of utilization of the heat employed in the process of distillation, whereby at the same time that its Waste is minimized, theheat is distributed and applied at different temperatures so as to save substantially all he fluid constituents (liquid and gaseous), as well as the solid residual product or charcoal of the substance treated.

Again, in respect to the item of elliciency aforemenlioned, provision is by my lll\'G11- lion, made for unifm'mity and economyof mmiut'aelure of charcoal of the h ghest grade and such as will satisfy the requirements of the most exacting demands.

in view particularly of the foregoing gen-.

eral statement. what constitutes my present inveutioiiv will be hereinafter specified in detail and succinctly set forth in (laims.

Inasmuch as the various mechanical in- F? rumentalities which enter into the embodiment of my present invention, as it is herein descr bed, ma v be of a kind well known in the art. it is deemed equally conducive, not only to simplieitv and elearnews, but. also to ample fullness of deseriptitm to strip the illustration of my invention of all details that are runressential.

Accordingly. in the awon'ipanyinn' drawing, i show a dian raunnath'al illustration of apparatus either directly enter-in; into my invention or adapted and employed for carry ng it into etl'e l.

lletm'riiur to the numerals on the drawing, 1 indicates chamber or Iunnel which may be of any suitable and preferred con-*trru-liou materials, dimensions and extent. it is provided throughout its longitudinal extent with means, such as rails or tracks, not illustrated but whose use f r a like purpose is familiar in the art. for the transportation. from end to end oi. the chaml; er, of a succession of conthe appended an elongated composite veyors, represented,

2 may be of any OF ORGANIC for example and to avoid unnecessary multiphtation of detail 7 so indicated at suitable kind preferred. that are built of material adapted to endure,

without injury, the high do which they are subjected in through the chamber or male.

gree of heat to their passage tunnel 1, which is also built of suitable heat-resisting mate.

The said chamber is orovided at its o.-

1 posits ends Wltll a r-tight terminal doors A and B, and at intervals with suitable intermediate transverse partitions, doors,

such as are of familiar er locks 3, art or which may be any preferred. and to oth The doors 3 con Eates use in the er suitable k nd stitute, in effect all practical purposes, considering the effect of the presence of the terminaldoors A and B, air or gas tight movable walls,

which serve to divide transversely thelength of the chamber 1 into a plurality of separate but consecutively communicating compartn'ients.

In praetural operation, tl

1e cars are advanced one by one through the compartments at intervals, upon whi doors 3 ch occasions the are opened as reduired for their passage in accordance with methods already well understood in the art.

In the drawing, are. for example armed 4 and 1) constitute. l I intake and outlet sixof said compartments only, 1llustrated namely, compartments 4, 5, 6, T, 8 and 9.

Of those 'espectively, car

connmrtn'ients. and they,

ineludingalso compartn'ient 7, may be designated sealing fHDKUOIl of each is thatiof partments contiguous to them so elude. when their doors ai muni alion between difleren or with the outside atmosp sp'eetive'situation 'ol' the 0 question may require.

Besides the sealing designated, of the three ments. 5 may be designated lure d stillation compartment.

temperature distillation compartments.

:1 seal. to comas to exe closed. comt compartments mmpartments just I'l-I'llllllllllQ eon'ipart a low-temperzn 6 a higheompartmeut, and

H a eoolirm eoumartmenl. whereof the several functions graphs next succeeding.

The eon'ipartment 6 is that in which structive distillation takes are specified in the paraplace.

quently it is desirable and so a greater or less degree essential. to exclude therefrom intrusion of oxygen that is an element ever present in the outsid' ziir. To that end the presence upon opposite ends of it, of the compartments 4 and 5, and 7, 8, and 9, respectively, \cifeclsively contribute, in connection. with the terminal doors A. and B.

The intake compartment 4: is in eii'ect a mere receiver into which cars .2 loaded with wood or other material with which the process is useful are first introduced oneby one in succession; From compartment d the cars pass into compartment 5, and from the former to the iaiter a modicum of air, mini mined in volume at the utmost to'the interior capacity of the former, may pass.

The comparatively low temperature employed in the compartment 5 being such only as is sufiicicnt to dry the organic contents of the cars Without combustion. and to distil therefrom the more volatile con stituent elements thereof. it is, nevertheless, sufficient substantially to deoxygenize the air confined within the compartment Wherefore, when the door between compartments 5 and 6 is opened all danger of explosion through combustion of the mixture of air with the gaseous contents of compartment 6 is eliminated.

Compartment 6. being, as has been specified, that in which destructive distillation takes place, is one adapted to operate under high temperature; Provision is made in the manner and for the purpose hereinafter specified, {or graduating the distribution of the heat within the ccnipsrtment 6, whereby the heat within the said compartment is maintained s5: e. desired maximum at the car outlet end thereof and is gradually decreased to about one half at the cur intake end of ssid compartment.

it is practically important to continue exclusion of oxygen (air) from the charcos-l product. while in an incandescent state, both during its occupancy of and alter its withdrawal from coi'npartment 6. To that end the gas-tight compartment? is provid-'.

ed to receive the loaded cars 2, one at a time, from compurtmeutfi, and might be used to hold them until suiiiciently cool to be exposed to the air. Such provision. although in itself suiiicient in one sense, would be attended by a loss of time which would impair. if not practically destrouthc practical economy of the apparatus in use.

For that TEESOD I'PT'QlGI to employs speciul cooling compartment 8. in which a dooxygcnsted atmosphere is utilized for gradually lowering the temperature of the charcoal product in the cars oruntil itnu y' be safely exposed to the outside atmosphere without danger of any combustion taking place in it or of injury otherwise to its quality.

mosses The capacity of the romp-ailment 8 is, for reasons hereinafter again referred to. sufiicient to accommodate a plurality of cars at one time.

As a safeguard against intrusion of oxygen into the compartment 8, a final outlet or sealing compartment 9 may be and preferably isprovided.

Having now described the preferred form of the composite. chamber 1, 1 next proceed to specify the method and means wherein and whereby it is utilized in respect to its several compartments.

it will have been gathered from the i'orcgoing specification that the compartment 6 is the one in Whose functioning the ultimate capacity of the apparatus for distillation is reached. For that reason reference is directed in the first instance to it. it derives heat, preferably, from a circulatory heating system comprisinp an induction pipe 12 and an eduction pipe 13 which are in operative communication with a. suitable source of heat. The pipe 12 makes delivery of a circulatory heating medium at a point slightly removed from but adjncent to the car outlet end of compartment; 6 or that end thereof next to compartment 7, and is preferably introduced through or near the floor thereof.

The eduction pipe 13 communicates in a corresponding manner with the compartment (3 near the car inlet end thereof which is next to compartment 5.

The disposition and capacities of the pipes 12 and 13, relatively to each other and to the inside capacity of the complui went 6, are such as to effect in operation substantially uniform ratio between the temperature near the outlet end of the said compartmentand that adjacent in the inlet end thereof. The object is to maintain. in conjunction with a graduated intermediate temperature. diiiercnt but substantially uniform tom erntures for the respective opposite ends 0 the interior of the compartment 6, further expluined in the next paragraph.

The temperature of the circulatory heating medium at the entrance of'the induction pipe 19 into coml'iartn'icnt (i should approximate five hundred degrees ccutigradc (500 C.) below which a variation :11 that point of not to exceed fifty degrees is permissible. The temperature of said medium at illlv op posits or our inlet end of the compartment 6. or that end which is adjacent to the mouth of the eduction pipe 13, should approximate .two hundred and fifty degrees ccntiui'udc (250 C.) which, as will hereinafter appear. is substantially equal to the temperature maintained in compartment 5. Consequent- 1y, there is no substantial or material change of temperature in the substance treated produced in passing from compartment 5 into eoaeaa compartment 6. The uniformitv of temoerature just mentioned maintained with advantageous results in respect to the quality of the product obtained, and with distinct gain in the economy of its manufacture.

The circulatory heating system aforemen' tioned as comprising the combination of the pipes 12 and 13 with a suitable source of heat preferably includes an equalizer 15 whose function is to maintain a substantial uniforinity tents of the induction pipe 12, and through which directly, communication with the source of heat is preferably made. The equalizer preferably consists of a closed chamber built of heat resisting and absorbing material, such for example as firebrick, and is provided within its interior with a medial partition Wall 16 and with battle plates 17 and 18 extending, respectively, in opposite directions from the Wall 16 and from the opposing inside Walls of the chamber 15. The members 16, 17, and 18, are, like the body of the equalizer, made of heat resisting and absorbing material.,'the Wall 16 being shorter than the interior length of th s chamber 15 and the plates 17 and 18 being made to overreach one another, whereby a circuitous passage of indefinite extent is provided Within the chamber 15 for the flow of the circulatory medium, through it.

From the same end of the equalizer 15 with which the pipe 12 communicates, but

. upon the other side of the Wall pipe, a pipe I At the 20 leads to a cross-over pipe 2]. which establishes communication between it and a plurality of furnaces, as for example the two indicated by the respective numerals 22 and 23. In the pipe 21, on opposite sides of the pipe 20, respectively, I provide cut-0ii valves 24; and the number of said valves being equal to the number of the furnaces employed, and their function being severally to make cominunication between the equalizer l5 and eith r one of the furnaces which is lcn'iporarily same time that one valve is opened to make co nmuni:ation as last stated, the other valve is operated as a cut-oll' to such furnace or furnaces as may be for [be time being out of immediate service.

Each furnace is provided, in effect, with a regcnoratmchamber 26, whose interior construction corresponds in effect or in all material respects with that of the chamber or equalizer 15 already dcsrribcd. Upon the side of each chamber 26, opposite to that on which the pipe Lil enters it, I. provide a lire wall 27 over which the liculcd products of combustion while maintained in the furnace pass front the furnace of which it forum a port into the circuitous passage with which the TOQPHOI'M'OI chamber 26 is, as has been specified, provided. A grade 28 is indicated for burning of solid fuel when desired.

in temperature of the gaseous con-' IQSIJQClilYG valves 2-47-25 operative to supply it with hcat.-

lVith-ea'ch furnace an air supply pipe 29 is adapted at intervals opcratively to communicate, as through a valve-contr0llcd branch pipe 3031. The pipe 29 derives air preferably through a prehcater jacket 32, which communicates with :1 preferably hooded air intake 34 located in the open outside atn'iosphcrc.

A smoke pipe 36, as it maybe called for the purpose of distinction, constitutes a common discharge conduit for the products of comlmstion from each of the furnaces, and is, to that end, provided, for crample, with a valve 37 or 38 in the respective branclrpipes 39 and 40. through which the pipe 29 communicates with the cross-over 21.

The branch-pipes 39 and 40 connect, respectively, with the cross-over 21 between its and the respective furnaces, so as to render the latter operatively independent.

The smol e-pipo ill; leads through the compartment 5 to a place of discharge' such for example. as a stack 13, whose draft upon said pipe is preferably augn'iented by a suction fan 1|'- l opcratively introduced into it. In operative conununicution with the pipe 36 which may be suitably amplified for the purpose, I prefer to introduce between the furnaces 22--23 and the compartment 5,- a boiler that is preferably'of the return tubular type, and within the con'ipartment 5, prefer to amplify the heating surface of the pipe 336 by means of the multiplied form of pipe 46, shown'for example, in the drawmo. v

The reason for the provision of the boiler 45 is, at least. tln'eefold. In the first place, it allords, through employment of a properly 1undetermined pro 'iortion between the caparity of the single pipe 36 and that of the surl'acoof the. tubes of the boiler 45, a means of tempering, substantially to a desired maximum say of two hundred and lil'ty degrees rentigradc (250 1), the heat of the products of combustion from the furnaces before said products reach the interior of the compartment 1. In the second place, the boiler all'ords economicalincans for util izingg the. l *at of said products to generate steam, which may be drawn ofl' fordriving the fans of my apparatus or other general uses, as through a valve-controlled steam pipe 47. in the third place, steam supplied from the b lri 45 may be conducted, as. for example, through a. valve-comrolled and terminally branched pipe ib. into the intcrior oi tbc of buiniditvinu' the atmosphere of the same, it means for that purpose be desired.

From any suitable point. a discharge pipe 1) leads from the b ttom f the compartment 4" thr ugh the coils 5] ol a suitable condenser provided with a tube 54 for translei-ringto suitable containers 55 the more loo compartmcui 5. for the purpose partment 6 and to the induction pipe 12. i

now explain that the pipcs 152 and "15) are corporated into a cirrulalory heating system lor the purpose of eli'octing a continuous flow of a circulatory medium having a high initial heat (say 500" [1.) where it lirst enters the compartment 6: and next proceed to trace the course in circuit, ol said circulatory medium, and to describe various functions performed thereby in its course. Let it be understood that a substantially constant degree othealat each point in the said circuit should be, in ell'cct. maii'iliained.

That is to say, that while there is designed to he a gradual variation of the heat at different points in the 'circuit, the degree of heat should be, at each point, subslantially consiant. For exan'iplc, as has been specified, the heat at the discharge end of the induction pipe 12 should be maintained at say 5100 (3., a gradual rariation of fifty degrees at that point being permissible, because that latitude oi. gradual variation is, in practice attended by no injurious results, while a greater or a sudden variation might do harm.

Again, the healed circulatory medium in passinh through the comparln'ient (5 from the induction pipe 12 lo thecduction pipe 13 gives up substantially one halt of its heat in doing the work it has to do within the said compartment; lllll. the temperature of say 250 C. so attained by the lime the mouth of the cduction pipe 13 is reached, should also be substantially constant.

.Furlhcrmorc, the heat ol the circulatory mcdiiun must be, in order to obtain the best resu ts, maintained wilhoul' any intrusion into it oi frcc oxvgcn whose cilia-live prosnr-roven in small quantity would. to the injury ol' the product. cll'l-rl. combustion, and which in larger quantity might result in explosion. The ncrcssily of continuously maintaining in the circulatory medium a conslant dcu'rco ol heat lo!" a considerable period, and the necessity ol' hccpin g it l'rcc ol oxygen. dir-latcs the employment ol' a plurality of independently opcralivo l'urnaccs, because thereby it is made feasible to raise the temperature of the heat storage capacity of one furnace by internal commosses perior by operation of one or the other '35 of the valves 2 l-:2:3, it is cut oil from communication with the circulatory medium, while, at the same time, the other furnace continues without interruption operatively to heat and keep in motion the circulatory so medium, after it is temporarily cut oil trom communication with the air supply pipe 29. ln the operation of shifting into service one freshly heated furnace in place of an other whose heat has been reduced by Work, 8!?

considerable and sudden variations of temperature at the discharge end of the induction pipe 12 would be, without provision to the contrary. likely to.ensue. Wherefore,

I prefer to introduce into the pipe 12 be 90 tween its discharge end and the furnaces 22-23, which, for example, constitute its prinnrry source of heat supply, the equalizer 15, with the result of ellecting through storage by absorption 0t excess heat from a U a freshly lircd and cut oll'furnace, instead of leading the h -at directly from the latter into the compartment (3.

It is assumed that the reader skilled in the art has now traced the discharge from its loo source in continuous flow of the heated circulatory medium from the pipe 12 into compartment 6; that he bears in mind that said medium there finds work to do in effecting destructive distillation, say of wood loaded we in cars within said con'ipartmcntifand has noted that in the doing of said work said medium becomes reduced in temperatnae by. about one half and loaded with cer ba in ol the fluid constituent elements of the 'pvooil no that are separated by the heat fromt'heiv carbon base.

It will be observed that despite the heat, lost in the work of distillation, th temperature of the gas in the pipe 13 is still .i cat 115 and amply sullicient to raise the temperature of air admitted through its intake 3 In order torecover the heavier or tar like products of destructive distillation carried by the heated circulatory medium, lprovide 12a a pipe conduit 58 operatively connecting the ("oils if) within the jacket 32, provided with their distillate discharge system 60, with the inlrrior ot' a scrubber case 61. Said scrub-- ber may be of that familiar type which oper- 12 ates by circulation in the first instance of a priming liquid subsequently augmented by accumulation of distillates over bafille plates (32, promoted by the operation of a. pump 63 connected to a pipe 65, operatively comaim In such case, to

turn to a reg municating with the interior of the scrubber case at top and bottom, respectively. A cock (36 is provided for drawing oil the accumulation of liquid c'ontents of the scrubber case a? will.

For removal of the more volatile products carried in suspension bytthe hot circulatory medium, addil ionul (wntlensution is required, Which may be accomplished by connei zting, as by a pipe (37, the scrubber ($1 with condenser coils (S8 confined within a casing (5.), which is put izl communication, as by pipes 70 and T1, with a Water cooling systen'i. A coclocontrolled pipe 72 affords means for drawing off the volatile products condensed Within the coils 68.

A suction fan 73 is provided as a means suitable for promoting flow of the gaseous or circulatory medium. Said fan discharges as through. the end 74 of a pipe 75 immersed into a volume of liquid 76 confined in a sealin chamber 77. Said sealing chamber perl e-nus the function of a'regulator, and is adapted to maintain Within the entire circuit oi the circulatory medium a pressure in excess of outside atmospheric pressure, say an excess of It to .16 ll']lllllll6l'.(f3!$, or enough to A ard against intrusion of the oxygen of the air at any point by reason of any preporderanc of outside over inside pressure. After scrubbed .g'as leaves the chamber there rcnu ins :t'or it only to find return cared furnace in order to be Mme ti micated for repetition of its iii-vol 'uit above described. Such reit may find throunh either of the i it or 80, into \ruich a return pipe s uivided, and which are provided, re *cly, with hand-controlled valves 8:2

Around each of said valves a byin arc ni controllable as by a. cock 86, atlords & passage Way for fuel gas to one of th" rnaces. It Will be understood that the l s serves as a means for eliminating l the circulatory system, at will, com- This is desirable for the reatne circulatory gas will gradually in volume, due to the addition of gas from the wood. The by-pass peini removal of excess and combustible gas the system. The removal may be ell by means of valve 86 which may be t rro-xuv valve permitting the to be directed into the furnace to be burned or to be dischar zed to another place of utilization.

Owing; to the i unctionating of the condenser liter-said Within the casing 69, the circulation, lium Will have become cool by the time it the pipe 81, and in that regard my in ion attords an important economic advc n providing means for reheating the i ium utter it is cooled in the conde and before its re The rche last i'i'ientioned h i. 1 ,h

may be effected, to peculiar economical advantage, by utilizing for the purpose the otherwise waste heat which is obtainable, paradoxical though it may seem, by the method employed for operating the cooling compartment 8. To describe that method, so tar appears to benecessary for the purposes of the present specification in View of us reservation as subject matter for a separate application, it is deemed to be in order to specify that the heat of the loaded cars 2, upon their first admission, one by one, into the compartment 8, is intense, it being substantiallycqual to the maximum degree of heat developed Within the compartment 6. Consequently, by providing in operative communication with the pipe 81 a heating jacket 87 communicating With the interior of the compartment 8 as for example, Within the jacket 87, provision is made of a considerable economy tor utilim ing the heat of the compartment 8 which .were otherwise lost, for heating the circulatory medium, and heating it, before its return to a regenerator 26, to a degree approximating the maximum degree ultimately required of it.

The above mentioned resultis attained by locating the pipe 88 at the oer-intake or hot end 0*. the compartment 8, above which, as by an inclined or raised roof, a hood 90 is provided for directing the heat discharge to the pipe 88. l/Vithin the compartment 8 at the and opposite its car-intake end alteresaid, )FOVlSlOIl is made for a gradual cooling e ect, whereby, substantially regular intervals, the reductiohof the temperature of a car load Will be accomplished adequate to admit of its safe Withdrawal as a finished product from. the apparatus.

The interval between such Withdrawals last mentioned measures the effective productive capacity of my apparatus. In that connection it may be specified, Without restriction to exact dimensions; that While the car capacity of the respective compare ments 5 and 8 is equal, that of the compartthe compartment 8. Consequently, the com partments 4 and 9 being, like compartment 7,1i'ierely sealing compartments and Without other function than that of excluding adion of oxygen of the air c the oi" the chamber 1 at either eud,tnc

by a pipe 88, coiled,

ill

Ell

time of travel of a car from end to end of the chamber 1 will he twenty-four hours. That is to say, each car requires twentyfour hours in passing through the entire chamber 1. From experience of actual practice, that time is suilicicnt for the conversion of a load of wet wood, taken in at the intake end of the chamber 1, into high grade charcoal at the outlet end, thereof. It the wood at the intake end of the chamber 1 he not wet, the time of its conversion to charcoal may be curtailed somewhat, in proportion to the degree of dryness at uhich it enters said chamber.

The productive capacity of the apparatus is equal to twice the car capacity of com partmcnt 6. Vheret'ore, it the car capacity thereof equals twelve, the productive capacity oi the apparatus will be twenty-four car loads for every twenty-four hours, or one out loud per hour while the apparatus is in full operation.

The means which I prefer to employ for operstively effecting the cooling of the in-- terior of the compartment 8 is that shown in the drawing, and which n'iay, for the purposes of this specification,

riefly as follows.

Compartment 8 derives heat from the succession of cars loaded with incandescent material supplied to it, but after they are separated from the compartment 6. Consequently the Circulatory medium within the compartment 8 is substantially a form of the smne medium as that which circulates throu h com artment 6, although it is separator there rom and no longer a part or portion of it. One important fact to observe is that the circulatory medium within the compartment 8 is substantially deoxygenized entirely or to such extent as not to cause deterioration of the charcoal while it is undergoing the cooling process. in said com artment.

T at circulatory system which is in operative communication with the o0moartment 8, preferably comprises, in ad ition to the pipe 88 already specified, a scrubber 91. Those members are brought into operative combination, as by aid of suitable pipe connections 92, with each other and with a fan 93, which is adapted to draw off the hot circulatory medium from the hood 90 through the scrubber 91, and to discharge it, as by a pipe 94, into the lower earl; of that end of the compartment 8 which is substantially opposite, both longitudinally and vertically, in respect to said compartment from that point at which the pipe 88 enters the compartment. A water supply pipe 98 and a waste pipe 97 are in usual operative communication with the scrubber 91.

(hoe function or the scrubber 91 is to reduce gradually the temperature of each be described successive car load of charcoal to a degree at which it may he removed from the conn parti'ncnt, 8 with safety, that is, with perfect immunity from danger of combustion.

Another function oi the scrubber 91 is to remove any possible r mnant or trace of oil or other substance which might deleteriously all'ect the quality ot' the charcoal for some important uses, such, for instance, as use for poultry food.

in view of the foregoing specifications, the following description of the operation and carrying into eli'cct or my invention is deemed to be all suilicient for present puroses.

Let it heassumed that the chamber 1 is at first provided with a supply of loaded cars :2, which in such case will fill only compartment 5, either in single or in plural trains according to the track equipment of said chamber.

Afterwards, the terminal doors A and B and the intermediate doors 3 being proper ly closed, one or more as desired of the for naces, for example the two, namely filth-9.3, are fired by the combustion therein of any convenient form of fuel. Both of the valves 24 and 25 are, in the first instance .closed so that all products oi combustion find exit through the smoke pipe 3% by the course already specified.

In following said course, the heat of combustion, reduced from that generated in the furnace substantially to 250 (l, is admitted to the interior of compartment 5 which is charged, for example, with "wood as aforesaid, for distillation in whatever state of dryness the source of supply may render convenient. It may, for example, come from a water basin in which it is floated in customary log cuts.

The initial action of the heatupon the Wood Within compartment 5 is to dry it, and afterwards to distil therefrom its more volatile constituent elements, which, at aforesaid temperature developed vi hin compartment 5, are driven off without injury to them or change of their quality or identity. At the end. of a period say of six hours, which the period heretofore specified for treatment within the compartment 5, all of the constituents aforesaid which are more volatile and none other will have been exhausted from the Wood, the wood will be properly dried and heated throughout its mass, and also the atmosphere of the com partment 5 will he ertectlydeoxygenized.

The said period or treatment having been completed, the door 3 hetwecn compartmentsifr-and 6 is than opened, the terminal car or'cars, if there be more than one train of cars, is, by any usual or preferred metln od,-adva.nced into compartment 6, and the said door 3 is again closed. The operation described in the last sentence is repeated till) before the mosses at, regular intervals, with A for admission upon each occasion oi a fresh car into compartment 5 to talcethe place of thecar Withdrawn therefrom, until the compartment 6 is filled with its full complement of cars. Thereupon. for the first time it desired, although with due care it may be done compartment 6 is full of cars, heat, say at a temperature of 500 (1, is admitted to the said compartment through the induction pipe 12. Passing thence through the longitudinal extent of compartment 6 it loses part of its heat in doing the work o't' distillation it performs, until, by the time it reaches the car inlet end of said compartment where it'finds exit by Way of the eduction pipe 13, it is reduced to a temperature oi 250 C. The direct source of the heat supply aforesaid is the equalizer 15, and the remote source is that one (or battery) of furnaces which is temporarily in operative communication and in circuit with the equalizer, as heretofore specified. While in the operative COmmHIIICBAJOH last mentioned,

said furnace is cut oil from communication with the air supply pipe 29, and the circulatory medium at the initial heat of 500? C as heretofore specified. becomes charged with such gaseous constituents of the substance undergoing treatment as have hitherto resisted distillation, and is protected from cdinbustion only by exclusion of oxygen therefrom. Wherefore,- if it be desired, a portion of said medium may be, in inflammable state, drawn "from the main volume of the circulatory medium through a by-pass 85, and. upon supply of air to it from pipe 29, may be used for fuel in order to effect e onomically the reheating of a furnace at required intervals, as has been already specifled.

The method of employment and of the functioning of the circulatory medium in its travel in circuit has been heretofore described in terms which are, in this descrip tion of operation, believed to require no enlargement.

What I. claim is: v

1. Apparatus for the destructive distillation of wood comprising a chmnbcr closed as a Whole against intrusion of air and provided with a plurality of successively communicating separablecompurtrmznts, a cir cululory closed heating system of which at least one of said compartments forms a part, said system containing a gaseous heating medium, a furnace heated by internal combustion adapted to heat said medium,

means for heating another of the compartments excluded From said circulatory systern b the products of combustion from said furnace, said closed system being cut oft from the products of combustion. and means for closing said comparin'lents from -grce of l one another whereby they may he each independently heated Without affecting; the deleat in the other con'ipartment '2. iipparatuo for the dcstriurtife distil lntion of Wood couuu'ising'a chamber closed as a wholeagsiinst intrusion oi air and provided with a plurality ol s1l 'ce.- ,\'i\cl communicating: separable comm!rtmcnls. u circulutory closed heating system of which at least one of said compurtu'ients forms a party said system containing a. gaseous hunting medium. a furnace heated by internal coup hustion adapted to heat said mediuuu and means for directing the products of comhus tion from suid furnace to another at the cmnpai'ti'uents excluded from said circulu tory system to impart heat thereto, said last mentioned means preventing direct contact between the products ol combustion and the n'mterial in said conipartmcut means for closing said com'purtnlents t: l one another whereby they may he each nidcpcndcutly heated Without ullcctiug the degree ol heat in the other compartment and means excl uh iug the products of combustion from said closed system. I f

3. Apparatus for the destructive distillation of Wood comprising a chamber closed use "whole against intrusion of air from \i'ithout and provided with plurality of commui'iicating separable COnlPzUtniOiltS, a

ly heated by interim COl'l'lbllSllOll tluzrein means for directing the products of comhus-- tion through one oi said C(Hl'lPlPlliilCri'itS to impart heat to the material therein, a circulutory heat system of which another of said compartments forms a part, a heating medium in said system, means for passing said medium to either of said furnaces selectively whereby heat muy be imparted thereto and means for cutting oil the other of said :l'urnaces from said circulatory systei'n and excluding the products or combustion from said systcn i, the circulatory system imparting a higher degree of heat to its said compartment than the products of combustion impart to the other compartment.

ill

4. Apparatus for the destructive distillation of wood coi'uprising a chamber closed as a whole against intrusion of air from without and provided with plurality conununicatingr separable compm'tmcnts, a plurality of furnaces adapted to he separately heated by internal combustion there in, means for directing the products of combustion through one of said compartments to impart heat to the material therein, a circulatory heat system Of',WlllCll' another of said compartments forms a part, a heating i'nedium in said systcn'i, means for pass iug'suid medium through either of said furnaces selectively hereby heat mfilkd in'uiartcd thereto. and means for selectively cutting oil the other of said furnaces i i-one said circulatory system to permit the"heatring of the same by internal combustion, the

circulatory system imparting a higher demeans for directing the products of coinbustion through one of said compartments to impart heat to the material therein, a circulatory heat system of which another of said compartments forms a part, a heating medium in said system, means for passing said medium through any one of said furnaces seleeti Lel whereby heat be imparted thcretmeans for cutting oft any one of said furnaces from said circulatory system, the circulatory system imparting a. higher degree of heat to its said compartment than the products of combus tion impart to the other compartment, and a heat equalizer in said circulatory systern through which the said heating medium passed before it enters said compartnient.

{ii Apparatus for the destructive distillation of ood comprising a chamber closed a. whole against intrusion of air from without and provided with a plurality of communicating separable compartments. a .iurnace, means for heating the furl-lace by nternal combustion therein, a closed circui ivory heating-system of which one of said compartments forms a part, said system having a gas therein, means for passing the gas through said furnace, a second furnace, said furnaces adapted to be selectively cut into and out of said circulatory system, means for excluding air selectively from said furnaceswhen in communication with said circulatory medium, and means for directing the products of combustion from either furnace not in communication with said system through another of said compartments to impart a lower degree of heat thereto.

7. Apparatus for the destructive distillation of Wood comprising a chamber closed as a whole against intrusion of air from Without and provided With a plurality of communicating separable compartn'ients. a furnace, means for heating the furnace by internal combustion therein, a closed circulat'ory heating 5 stern of which one of said compartments orms a part, said system having; a gas therein, means for passing the gas through said furnace, a second furnace, said furnaces adapted to be selectively cut lute and out of said circulatory system,

mosses means for excluding air selectively from said furnaces when in communication with said circulatory medium, and means for di recting the products of combustitm from either furnace not in communication with said system through another of said compartments to impart a lower degree of heat thereto, said last mentioned means serving to prevent direct contact with the products of combustion with the material in said compartment.

8. In apparatus for the destructive distillation of Wood, the combination with a chamber closed as a whole against intrusion of air from without and provided within with a plura ty of successively communicating separabie compartments, and a circulatory system in operative communication with one of said compartments, of a plurality of furnaces each adapted to be heated by internal combustion therein, means for cutting; a furnace into or oil from communication with the circulatory systei at will, said circulatory system being kept operative by the heat of said furnaces but closed against intrusion of air, mea s for oil recting the products of combustion from a furnace during the period of heating it by internal combustion into operative contact but without communication with another oi" said compartments and Without communication with said circulatory system, and a boiler in operative communication with the means last named and out. of communication with said circulatory system.

ln apparatus for the destructive distillation of Wood, the c'ornbination with a chamber closed a Whole against intrusion of air from without, and provided within with a plurality of successively communieating separable compartments, and a circulatory system in operative communication with one of said compartments, of a plurality of furnaces each ada ted to be heated by internal combustion t erein, and means for cutting a furnace into or 05 from communication with the circulatory system at will, said circulatory system being kept open ative by the heat of said furnaces but closed against intrusion of kit, means for directing the products of ammunition from a tut nace during the period of heating it by internal combustion into operative contact but Without communication with another of said compartments and out 0% communication with said circulatory system, and a boiler in operative communication with the means last named, said boiler being in operative communication for humidifying purposes with the compartment last named and out of communication with said circulatory system. I

10. Apparatus for the destructive llstillation of Wood comprising a chamber closed as a whole against intrusion of air 7 said. conipartments forms a neoasaa as;

from without and provided with a plurality of communicating separable compart ments, a furnace, means for heating the furnace by internal. combustion therein, a closed circulatoryhcating system of which one of part, said sys tem having a gas therein, means for passing the gas through said furnace, a second furnace, said furnaces adapted to be selectively cut into and out of said circulatory system, means for excluding air selectively from said furnaces when in communication with said circulatory medium, means for directing the products of combustion from either furnace not in communication with said system through another of said compartments to impart a lower degree of heat thereto, said last mentioned means serving to prevent direct contact with the products of combustion with the material in said comartment, and a heat equalizer in said circuatory system between the furnaces and said compartment forming a part of said system.

11. Apparatus for the destructive distillation of wood comprising a chamber closed as a whole against intrusion of air from with out and provided with a plurality of com-. municating separable compartments, a furnace, means for heating the furnace by internal combustion therein, a closed circulatory heating system of which one of said compartments forms a part, said system having a gas therein, means for passing the gas through said furnace, a second furnace, said furnaces adapted to be selectively cut into and out of said circulatory system, means for excluding air selectively from said furnaces when in communication with said circulatory mediu'nn-means for directing the prmlucts of combustion from either furnace not in communication. with said system through another of said compartments to imnart a lower degree of heat thereto, said mentioned means serving to prevent direct contact with the products of combustion with the material in said coi'i'ipartment, a boiler through \"hich'the products of com iuistion pass, nniins for passing the products of conoustiou from said furnace through d boiler, and means of com'nnmication beech said boiler and the compartn'ient to whim said products of combustion are di Flt in apparatus "For the destructive disation of wood whereby carbonized resie is 1 lure a cl'ianlbcr closed as a whole f",' i" 1lf -i, the intrusion of air from without, a -iiruc:;iusysicnrul which said chan'ibcr a. part, and im-lluling a soin'ce of heat u! a5 a regeneraior, and a scrubbing c-lensing means, said system having 'cnlaiory medium, a cooling for cooling the carbi'mized resand menus for utilizing the wasze heat a scrubbing and condensing tem having therein a circulatory medium a erative heating contact with,

of the carbonized residue in the cooling compartmentfor imparting heat to the spent medium of the circulatory system prior to its return-to the regcnerator of said system.

13. In an apparatus for the destructive distillation of wood whereby carbonized residue is produced, a chamber closed as a whole against the intrusion of air from without, a circulatory system of which said chamber forms a part, and including a source of heat servingas a regenerator, and

means, said syscooling compartment for cooling the carbonized residue, and means for utilizing the waste heat of the carbonized residue in cooling compartment for imparting heat to the spent mediumof'the circulatory system prior to its return to the regenerator of said system, said source of heat consisting of a furnace adapted to be heated by internal combustion and to be selectively cut into or off from said circulatory system, and a tilt means of air supply for said furnace in op- Y but not in communication with said circulatory system.

. 14. The process for effecting destructive distillation of wood which consists in placing the material to be treatedin a closed chamber divided into a series of compartments closed from one another, passing a heating medium through a closed circulatory system' of which one compartment constitutes a part, heating said medium at required intervals by a furnace,- maintaining said furnace cut off from the intrusion of air while employed to heat saidmedium, in-

termittently cutting off said furnace from communication with said system and heating the same by internal combustion therewithin and utilizing for the purpose of heating another compartment of said chamber the heated products derived from said fur 'nace while combustion is supported therein.

15. The process for effecting the destructive distillation of wood winch consists 111 placing the material to be treated in a closed chaml'r divided into a series of compartments closed from one another, passing a heating medium throu h a closed circulatory system'of whic d: one compartment constitutes a part, heating said medium at required intervals by a iiurn ace in communication with said system, maintaining said furnace cut oli from the intrusion of air while employed to heat said medium. inlermittcntly cutting oli said 'l'urnace from communication with said system and ll(l.1'- ing the same by internal com ustion therewitbin, utilizing for the purpose of heating another coiupm'tment oi said chamher the heated proi'lucts derived from Said furna e hile ron'ibusi on' is supporml life therein and placing the material in a cooling compartment after it has been subjected to said heating medium.

16. The process for effecting the destructive distillation of wood which consists in placing the material to he treated in a closed chamber divided into a series of compartments substantially closed from one another,

. has been subjected to said heating medium,

and cooling said compartment by circulating therewithin a gradually cooling portion of said circulatory heating medium separated from the part thereof contained within the circulatory system.

17. The process for effecting the destructive distillation of wood which consists in placing the material to be treated in a closed chamber divided into a series of compartments substantially closed from one another, passing a heating medium through a closed circulatory system of which one compart-merit constitutes a part, heating said medium at required intervals by a "furnace in communication with said system, maintaining said furnace cut off from the intrusion of air medium, intermittently cutting off said furnace from communication with said system" while employed to heat said meas es and heating the same by internal combustion therewithin, utilizing for the purpose of heating another compartment of said chamber the heated products derived from said furnace While combustion is supported therein, placing the material inv a cooling compartment-after it has been subjected to said heating medium, cooling said compartment by circulating therewithin a gradually cooling portion of saidcirculatory heating medium separated irom the part thereof con tained Within the circulatory'system andderived from the material-introduced into said cooling compartment, and finally bringing into operative contact but not in communication with the return end of said circulatory system the heated circulatory medium derived, from said material, whereb the heat thereof before it is lost in the coo mg conipartment is utilized to restore to the circulatory medium heat consumed within the cireulatoiy system in its work of distillation} 7 18. lin apparatus tillation of wood, in combination,

for the destructiye die a chamber closed as a Whole against intruslon-of air from Without, a circulatory system having therein a circulatory medium, said chamber forming a part of said circulatory system, a plurality of furnaceseach adapted to be heated by internal combustion, means for cutting the furnaces serially into and from direct communication with the circulatory system at will, said circulatory system being kept operative by the heat of said furnaces, but closed against intrusion of air, and means of air supply for said furnaces in operative heating contact but not in communication with said circulatory system.

In testimony Wl'LBI'BOf, 1:, have hereunto set my hand.

nmnnu K. merchant 

